Hull to become 'Hull City Tigers'

Hull City are to be rebranded as Hull City Tigers after owner Assem Allam decided their name for the last 109 years was "irrelevant".

Hull will become Hull City Tigers, owner Assem Allam says.

The name change for the newly-promoted East Yorkshire club comes in a bid to increase their international appeal.

The club, nicknamed the Tigers, have been Hull City AFC since their foundation in 1904 - but the AFC part of their name will now be dropped, and Allem believes he can market the club better as Hull City Tigers.

The Egypt-born businessman told the Hull Daily Mail: "Hull City is irrelevant. My dislike for the word 'City' is because it is common. City is also associated with Leicester, Bristol, Manchester and many other clubs.

"In the commercial world, the shorter the name, the better, [and] the more it can spread quickly. It is about identity. City is a lousy identity. Hull City Association Football Club is so long."

Vice-chairman Ehab Allam added: "We have dropped the AFC as it is something which has become redundant. If anything, we have looked to strengthen our club brand and identity and we have gone back to stripes on the kit for the Tigers this year.

"The identity of the club is the Tigers, the stripes and the colour scheme of amber and black, which remains. We just feel that, now being on the international stage, we need to strengthen the brand identity."

The club later released a statement on their official website, which read: "In response to comments made following a recent interview, the Club would like to clarify its formal identity.

"The business name at Companies House had its ‘Association Football Club’ suffix removed in the spring of this year, leaving the club to be named ‘Hull City Tigers Ltd’. This will now be used in official club statements, regarding any of our commercial operations.

"The Tigers brand, with its powerful imagery, will be used in international markets to attract new interest and attention in both Hull and the East Riding from a worldwide audience.

"As has always been the case, supporters remain free to refer to the club as they wish, whether that be Hull City, City, Tigers, Black and Amber, or indeed any other variant of the Club’s name. For many, the Club will continue to be known as Hull City, as it has been from its inception.

"A new badge, to be used from the 2014/15 season, will be designed and created in consultation with fans over the coming months."

The move comes 12 months after Cardiff City, nicknamed the Bluebirds, ditched their blue shirt for a red one at the behest of their Malaysian owners.